Translator: AnubisTL
"Cough, cough!"
After exchanging a dozen punches each, Li Qing and Wu Yang were forced to separate by the pain radiating from their bodies.
Pain!
That was the first thought that flashed through both their minds. The other's fists landing on them were excruciatingly painful!
However, Li Qing, who had cultivated the Golden Body Technique, proved to be more resilient.
In contrast, Wu Yang, after enduring Li Qing's Tiger Fist, coughed repeatedly, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
"Excellent, excellent! The title of 'Fierce Tiger' is truly well-deserved. Such vigorous Vital Energy... no wonder you aspire to the Grandmaster Realm."
Having consumed Tiger Bone Nourishing Wine for nearly three years, Li Qing's Vital Energy now surged far beyond that of any of his peers, leaving Wu Yang deeply alarmed.
The saying goes, "Fists fear youth." But Wu Yang wasn't some decrepit old Martial Artist. In his early thirties, he was at the peak of his physical prime. Little did he know he'd encounter such a monster as Li Qing today.
Li Qing remained silent, but his gaze was equally grave as he fixed it on the man before him—the First Fist of Qing Province.
Throughout his year-long trial, this was the most formidable opponent he'd faced. Wu Yang's fist techniques were cunning, and his explosive power at close range was simply astonishing.
No wonder Hong Zhentian had sent him to Qingzhou for this trial. Those who had earned the title of number one in any field of the Martial Path were clearly not to be underestimated.
After a long moment, once his breathing had steadied, Li Qing growled in a low voice, "Again!"
Wu Yang's expression shifted slightly, but he showed no sign of backing down. He charged forward once more.
The two men clashed again, still refusing to defend, trading blows with fists, exchanging wounds for wounds, each vying to be more ruthless, more resilient.
Bang!
A muffled explosion erupted as their fists collided for the first time.
Terrifying forces intertwined, and both men gasped, feeling as if their fists were about to shatter.
Li Qing's breathing grew increasingly labored. His eyes were bloodshot. With a roar, he finally mobilized the Inner Strength he hadn't used in ages!
"Keep going!"
The not-so-abundant Inner Strength surged through his arm, blending with his Internal Strength and enhanced by the Golden Body Technique's physical reinforcement.
This punch was nearly the most powerful he'd ever thrown in his life!
Boom!
The air seemed to explode, and a sudden whistling sound pierced the silence.
The punch's speed exceeded Wu Yang's reaction time. He only heard the wind tearing through the air before the terrifying fist slammed into his shoulder.
Bang!
The sound of a cannon blast echoed as Wu Yang's body was sent flying backward, crashing violently against the Wei Manor's main gate.
Li Qing, a human-shaped beast with disheveled hair, stood before the Wei Family Manor's gate, his eyes bloodshot.
At this moment, the title of First Fist of Qing Province was about to change hands.
Li Qing wiped the sweat constantly dripping from his forehead and turned toward Fan Tong.
But before he could take a step, a sharp, aged voice rang out:
"Hmph, you young rascal! You cause a ruckus at the Wei Family's gate, injure people, and think you can just walk away?"
As the words echoed, Li Qing turned, his face puzzled, to look at the source of the voice.
An elderly, hunched figure stood atop the Wei Manor's gate, each hand gripping a curved blade.
The Twin-Blade Wei Family—it was clear this old man must be Wei Cang, the Wei Family's Clan Leader.
"What? Clan Leader Wei wants to have a match with me too?" Li Qing frowned slightly, retorting.
Though he had just fought and expended considerable energy, he wouldn't mind letting the old man taste his Peerless Hammer if another fight was necessary.
But to Li Qing's surprise, Wei Cang leaped down from the gate, his stern expression softening instantly. His tone also became amiable:
"Hahaha, at my age, I'm too old to fight anymore," Wei Cang said, sheathing his twin blades. "Young heroes emerge from youth. Little Brother Li, would you consider staying at my manor for the night?"
Li Qing's heart immediately grew wary. He replied slowly, "Clan Leader Wei, I appreciate your kind offer, but I have urgent matters to attend to and cannot stay at your manor."
At this, Wei Cang became even more insistent. "What's the rush? It's rare for Little Brother Li to visit Origin Spring City. How could the Wei Family not show proper hospitality? Please reconsider. If outsiders learned of this, they'd say the Wei Family doesn't know how to treat guests!"
This doesn't sound like genuine kindness. Why would he offer such hospitality for no reason?
Li Qing cut straight to the point. "Clan Leader Wei, if you have something to say, just say it directly. No need to beat around the bush."
Wei Cang's expression immediately became conflicted. After a moment, he finally spoke slowly, "Little Brother Li, I wonder... are you already betrothed?"
Huh???
Now it was Li Qing's turn to be utterly bewildered. How had the conversation suddenly shifted to this? He was completely thrown off balance.
"Cough, cough... Clan Leader Wei, do you still have an unmarried daughter?"
As he said this, Li Qing couldn't help but give Wei Cang a suspicious look. At his age, in his seventies or eighties, even if he had a daughter, she'd likely be at least in her thirties or forties by now.
"No, no, you misunderstand," Wei Cang said awkwardly. "I have a granddaughter. Little Brother Li, would you like to meet her?"
So eager to marry off his granddaughter? She must be terribly ugly!
Li Qing chuckled and replied, "I have dedicated my life to the Martial Path. I can no longer pledge myself to another."
With that, Li Qing turned to mount his tiger and leave, but Wei Cang's next words brought him to an abrupt halt.
Seeing Li Qing's resolute departure, Wei Cang gritted his teeth and called out, "Brother Li, please wait! My family possesses a Transformed Strength Grandmaster's martial path insights. If you're willing to help me with two tasks, I'll gladly offer you this treasure."
A Transformed Strength Grandmaster's martial path insights?
Li Qing's footsteps slowed to a stop. He turned and asked, "Clan Leader Wei, if you have such profound insights passed down from a Grandmaster, why are you still at the Inner Strength level?"
"Alas, my aptitude is poor, and my comprehension is dull. Even with the martial path insights passed down by my Ancestor, I've failed to reach the Grandmaster Realm," Wei Cang said with a bitter smile.
Now it was Li Qing's turn to hesitate. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Why don't you tell me what two things you want me to do?"
Seeing Li Qing finally waver, Wei Cang quickly replied, "This isn't the place for a conversation. Why don't we go inside the manor?"
Li Qing nodded in agreement. "Very well."
He whistled, and Fan Tong, who had been standing nearby, immediately picked up the Peerless Hammer and lumbered over to Li Qing.
With the hammer secured on his back, Li Qing finally felt at ease and followed Wei Cang and the tiger into the manor.
Wu Yang, who had been sent flying by Li Qing's punch earlier, had retreated, presumably to tend to his injuries.
Wei Manor was magnificent, its surroundings and furnishings elegant. It was clear how deep the roots of this century-old family ran.
The Wei Family, which had monopolized an entire city in Qingzhou as their territory, was naturally far beyond the reach of ordinary Martial Path clans.
In the beginning, the first Clan Leader of the Wei Family had been a Grandmaster!
Although no Grandmasters had been born since, the Wei Family still produced Inner Strength experts. Each generation's leader had to be an Inner Strength Martial Artist to qualify for the position.
However, the Wei Family had clearly declined significantly. After generations of inheritance, only Wei Cang, an old man with one foot in the grave, remained as an Inner Strength Martial Artist. The martial arts aptitude of the other family members was shockingly poor.
They had to hire outside Martial Path retainers just to maintain the family's current prestige, a clear sign of their waning influence.
Yet these retainers, hired from outside, would never truly belong to the Wei Family.
They might barely maintain the family's dignity, but as Wei Cang grew older and no new Inner Strength Martial Artists emerged, the retainers had become a thorn in the Wei Family's side.
"The guests have become the hosts! The magpies have taken over the nest!"
Entering Wei Cang's meeting room, the old man cut straight to the point:
"Little Brother Li, my granddaughter is as beautiful as a flower. Won't you reconsider?"
Li Qing shook his head again.
Seeing this, Wei Cang finally abandoned his plan to recruit Li Qing as a son-in-law.
(End of the Chapter)
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